The designated hitter rules turns 40 this year, much to the delight of aging, slightly arthritic sluggers everywhere. The DH, though occasionally derided as having taken the strategy out of baseball, has kept alive the career of many hitters who find themselves somewhat less-than-adept at the half of the game that involves throwing and catching. Jayson Stark thinks that daily interleague play will eventually result in universal adoption of the designated hitter rule. Such a change would strip the American and National Leagues of any real differences, but it might be a necessity, if for no other reason than to minimize the managerial headache that comes from playing with two sets of rules.

Thomas Warren: "There is so much more strategy involved when pitchers actually have to play the game of baseball. Plus the DH addresses a problem that no longer exists -- lack of offense."

Kenny Firlit: "What is so fun about watching a pitcher come to bat and just about 90% of the time make an out?"

Mark Wooldridge: "DH is for coaches who don't understand strategy of the game. Luckily the old school coaches are all but retired."

Jeff Ende: "Eventually it will come to the NL. And I won't like it. But if it must come, how about making the DH is only for the starting pitcher. When the starter comes out, the DH is out of the game too. This will still force those decisions in late games that we see in the NL and not in the AL."

Stephen O'Brian: "The DH is a great rule. Nobody wants to see a pitcher K on 3 straight pitches or go down swinging like a little leaguer. If you want to keep pitchers hitting then have them become better hitters."

Andre Daniels: "The DH is a travesty. Make the pitchers take BP. They are baseball players. Baseball players hit. Next thing you know we will have the DH in Little League. If you think that is absurd than why is it not absurd to have it in the MLB?"